Atlantic
Records, Andrew Loog Oldham, Shel Talmy, Cream, Isaac Hayes and er Tony
Blackburn, all these and so many more turn up in the story of Southampton band
the Fleur De Lys and so many more. You may not have heard of them, and if you
have it may be just because of their glorious cover of the Who’s Circle’s – an
ultimate freak beat anthem which this compilation is named after – but the
singles they released in the second half of the 1960s are one of the greatest
collections of singles by any band, ranging from R&B through freakbeat and
psych and back into club soul.
Emerging from
the English South Coast’s competitive club scene they signed to Rolling Stones’
manager Andrew Loog Oldham’s pioneering indie label Immediate where they
recorded two singles before being taken under the wing of Frank Fenter who
worked out of the UK Polydor office running the UK arm of Atlantic. The group
went through numerous line-up changes as they recorded a series of singles
which are now some of the most collectible of the era.
Acid Jazz and
Countdown Records have been the custodians of the Fleur De Lys catalogue for
the last decade and this compilation is the culmination of that work containing
all the singles that they released for Immediate, Polydor and Atlantic (where
they pipped Led Zepplin to become the first UK signed band to that legendary
label). Issued digitally, on CD and in a limited edition gatefold coloured
double vinyl, it has been produced with the full co-operation of the group’s
Keith Guster, allowing us to use previously unseen photos and illustrations.
Compiled by Eddie Piller and Dean Rudland and the band’s official biographer
Paul ‘Smiler’ Anderson, who has contributed an extended note that tells the
band’s story in compelling detail.
Available on
the 26th March 2021.
Tracklisting: -
Circles
Mud In Your
Eye
Hold On
Gong With The
Luminous Nose
Tick Tock
Hammer Head
One City Girl
I Forgive You
Brick By
Brick (Stone By Stone)
I Can See A
Light
Prodigal Son
Nothing To
Say
Stop Crossing
The Bridge
The Bitter
With The Sweet
So Come On
You’ve Got To
Earn It
Two Can Make
It Together
I’ve Been
Trying
(You’re Just
A) Liar
Moondreams
Wait For Me
Love Them All
(Demo)
Gotta Get
Enough Time (Demo)
I Walk The
Sands
Yeah I Do Love You (Demo)
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